{"id":22855,"date":"2026-10-01T13:21:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T20:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/?p=22855"},"modified":"2026-10-13T14:52:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T21:52:48","slug":"medi-cal-update-for-some-immigrant-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/2026\/10\/01\/medi-cal-update-for-some-immigrant-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Medi-Cal Update for Some Immigrant Members"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dear Medi-Cal member,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may have heard that Medi-Cal\u2019s rules are changing because of a new federal law. The federal government is limiting what it will cover for people with certain immigration statuses. However, you will keep your full scope Medi-Cal.<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Good News!<\/strong> You will keep your full scope Medi-Cal because you live in California. Your coverage will not stop.<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medi-Cal still covers the services below, and more:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Doctor visits and regular check-ups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emergency and urgent care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregnancy care and birth control<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medicine, medical supplies and medical tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Specialty care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dental care, vision care, eyeglasses, and hearing aids<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental health care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foot care<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alcohol and drug-use treatment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rides to the doctor and to pick up medicine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In-home help so you can stay safely at home<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How You Access Medi-Cal Care is Changing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of federal rules, on January 1, 2027, you will no longer be a member of a Medi Cal health plan. Instead, you will be a member of a \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal, also called Fee for-Service (FFS) Medi-Cal. \u201cRegular\u201d Medi-Cal does not mean you pay. Medi-Cal will still pay for your care.<br \/><br \/>In \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You will not be in a health plan<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can still go to any doctor, clinic, hospital, or provider that accepts \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You will use your Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Card (BIC), also called Medi-Cal card, instead of a health plan card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some services that only exist in Medi-Cal health plans will stop, but many other services will stay the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In December, we will send you another letter with more information about this \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal change, how to access care, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What You Need To Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Medi-Cal needs correct information to help you stay covered.<\/strong><br \/>Please make sure we have your <strong>current immigration status<\/strong>. Your local county Medi-Cal office uses this information to help you get all the benefits you may qualify for. The county may contact you to ask for updated information. <br \/><br \/>If your immigration status has changed, or if you think the county may not have your most current information, please update your information as soon as possible. You must provide updated immigration information by December 1, 2026.<br \/><br \/><strong>How to update your information:<\/strong><br \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/benefitscal.com\">https:\/\/benefitscal.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call or visit your local county Medi-Cal office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find your county office here: <a href=\"https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL\">https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also call the Medi-Cal Helpline at 1-800-541-5555 for help finding your county office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask your current doctor or clinic if they take \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If they say yes, you can keep going there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If they say no, you will need to pick a new doctor who accepts \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can pick a \u201cregular\u201d Medi-Cal doctor by:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Calling the Medi-Cal Helpline at 1-800-541-5555.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using the Medi-Cal FFS Provider Lookup tool at: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderLookup\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderLookup<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using the online list of Medi-Cal FFS providers at: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderList\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderList<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use your Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Card (BIC), also called Medi-Cal card, for care starting January 1, 2027.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If your BIC is lost, stolen, or damaged, ask your county office or visit <a href=\"https:\/\/benefitscal.com\">https:\/\/benefitscal.com<\/a> for a replacement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open, fill out, and return any mail you get from Medi-Cal. This helps you renew and keep your Medi-Cal. If a notice asks you to provide information or complete a renewal, respond by the deadline listed. If you do not understand the request, contact your local county Medi-Cal office for help before the deadline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Call the DHCS Medi-Cal Helpline to learn what Medi-Cal covers: 1-800-541-5555.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call or visit your county Medi-Cal office for questions about your case:<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL\">https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go online to learn more: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/medi-cal\/updates\/medi-cal\">https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/medi-cal\/updates\/medi-cal<\/a> changes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Email questions about this policy to: <a href=\"mailto:ImmigrationPolicy@dhcs.ca.gov\">ImmigrationPolicy@dhcs.ca.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The California Department of Social Services Immigration Services Bureau has a list of trusted nonprofit groups that help immigrants in California: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/immigration\/contractor-contact-information\">https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/immigration\/contractor-contact-information<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You can get free help in other languages and formats<\/strong> like large print, audio, and Braille. Call the phone numbers on the Language Services flyer that came with this letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you,<br \/>Department of Health Care Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Estimado miembro de Medi-Cal,,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Es posible que haya escuchado que las reglas de Medi-Cal est\u00e1n cambiando debido a una nueva ley federal. El gobierno federal est\u00e1 limitando lo que cubrir\u00e1 para las personas con ciertos estados migratorios. Sin embargo, usted seguir\u00e1 teniendo su Medi-Cal con cobertura completa.<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u00a1Buenas noticias!<\/strong> Mantendr\u00e1 su cobertura completa de Medi-Cal porque vive en California. Su cobertura no se detendr\u00e1.<br \/><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medi-Cal todav\u00eda cubre los servicios de abajo, y m\u00e1s:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visitas al m\u00e9dico y chequeos regulares<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Atenci\u00f3n de emergencia y urgente<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuidado del embarazo y anticonceptivos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medicinas, suministros m\u00e9dicos y pruebas m\u00e9dicas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Atenci\u00f3n especializada<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuidado dental, cuidado de la vista, gafas y aparatos auditivos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuidado de la salud mental<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuidado de los pies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tratamiento para el consumo de alcohol y drogas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transporte al m\u00e9dico y a recoger medicamentos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ayuda en casa para que pueda permanecer seguro en su hogar<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>La forma en que accede la atenci\u00f3n de Medi-Cal est\u00e1 cambiando<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Debido a las reglas federales, el 1 de enero de 2027 ya no ser\u00e1 miembro de un plan de salud Medi-Cal. En su lugar, ser\u00e1 miembro del Medi-Cal \u201cnormal\u201d, tambi\u00e9n llamado Medi-Cal de Pago por Servicio (FFS). Medi-Cal \u201cnormal\u201d no significa que tenga que pagar. Medi-Cal seguir\u00e1 pagando por su cuidado.<br \/><br \/>En el Medi-Cal &#8220;regular&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No estar\u00e1 en un plan de salud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A\u00fan puede ir a cualquier m\u00e9dico, cl\u00ednica, hospital o proveedor que acepte Medi-Cal \u201cnormal\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Usar\u00e1 su Tarjeta de Identificaci\u00f3n de Beneficiario de Medi-Cal (BIC), tambi\u00e9n conocida como tarjeta de Medi-Cal, en lugar de una tarjeta de plan de salud.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Algunos servicios que solo existen en los planes de salud Medi-Cal dejar\u00e1n de estar disponibles, pero muchos otros servicios seguir\u00e1n igual.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">En diciembre, le enviaremos otra notificaci\u00f3n con m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n sobre este cambio de Medi-Cal \u201cregular\u201d, c\u00f3mo acceder atenci\u00f3n y m\u00e1s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Lo Que Necesita Hacer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Medi-Cal necesita informaci\u00f3n correcta para ayudarle a mantener su cobertura.<\/strong><br \/>Por favor aseg\u00farese de que tengamos su <strong>estado migratorio actual<\/strong>. La oficina local de Medi-Cal de su condado usa esta informaci\u00f3n para ayudarle a obtener todos los beneficios para los que podr\u00eda calificar. Es posible que el condado se comunique con usted para pedir informaci\u00f3n actualizada.<br \/><br \/>Si su situaci\u00f3n migratoria ha cambiado, o si cree que el condado podr\u00eda no tener su informaci\u00f3n m\u00e1s actual, por favor actualice su informaci\u00f3n lo antes posible. Debe proporcionar la informaci\u00f3n migratoria actualizada antes del 1 de diciembre de 2026.<br \/><br \/><strong>C\u00f3mo actualizar su informaci\u00f3n:<\/strong><br \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visite <a href=\"https:\/\/benefitscal.com\">https:\/\/benefitscal.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llame o visite la oficina local de Medi-Cal de su condado.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encuentre la oficina de su condado aqu\u00ed: <a href=\"https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL\">https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tambi\u00e9n puede llamar a la L\u00ednea de Ayuda de Medi-Cal al 1-800-541-5555 para obtener ayuda para encontrar la oficina de su condado.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pregunte a su m\u00e9dico o cl\u00ednica actual si aceptan Medi-Cal &#8220;regular&#8221;.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Si ellos dicen que s\u00ed, puede seguir yendo ah\u00ed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Si dicen que no, tendr\u00e1 que elegir un nuevo m\u00e9dico que acepte Medi-Cal &#8220;regular&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Puede elegir un m\u00e9dico \u201cregular\u201d de Medi-Cal:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Llamando a la L\u00ednea de Ayuda de Medi-Cal al: 1-800-541-5555.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utilizando la herramienta de b\u00fasqueda de proveedores de Medi-Cal FFS en: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderLookup\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderLookup<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utilizando la lista en l\u00ednea de proveedores de Medi-Cal FFS en: <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderList\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/Medi-CalProviderList<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utilice su Tarjeta de Identificaci\u00f3n de Beneficiario de Medi-Cal (BIC), tambi\u00e9n conocida como tarjeta de Medi-Cal, para recibir atenci\u00f3n a partir del 1 de enero de 2027.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Si pierde, le roban o se da\u00f1a su tarjeta BIC, solicite un reemplazo en la oficina de su condado o visite: <a href=\"https:\/\/benefitscal.com\">https:\/\/benefitscal.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Abra, complete, y devuelva cualquier correspondencia que reciba de Medi-Cal. Esto le ayuda a renovar y mantener su cobertura de Medi-Cal. Si recibe una notificaci\u00f3n solicit\u00e1ndole informaci\u00f3n o que complete una renovaci\u00f3n, responda antes de la fecha l\u00edmite indicada. Si no entiende la solicitud, comun\u00edquese con la oficina local de Medi-Cal de su condado para obtener ayuda antes de la fecha l\u00edmite.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u00bfPreguntas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Llame a la L\u00ednea de Ayuda de Medi-Cal del DHCS para saber qu\u00e9 cubre Medi-Cal: 1-800-541-5555.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Llame o visite la oficina de Medi-Cal de su condado si tiene preguntas sobre su caso: <a href=\"https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL\">https:\/\/dhcs.ca.gov\/COL<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visite el sitio web para obtener m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/medical\/updates\/medi-cal-changes\">https:\/\/www.dhcs.ca.gov\/medical\/updates\/medi-cal-changes<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Env\u00ede sus preguntas sobre esta regla por correo electr\u00f3nico a: <a href=\"mailto:ImmigrationPolicy@dhcs.ca.gov\">ImmigrationPolicy@dhcs.ca.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>La Oficina de Servicios de Inmigraci\u00f3n del Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California tiene una lista de organizaciones sin fines de lucro de confianza que ayudan a los inmigrantes en California: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/immigration\/contractor-contact-information\">https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/immigration\/contractor-contact-information<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Puede obtener ayuda gratuita en otros idiomas y formatos<\/strong>, como letra grande, audio y Braille. Llame a los n\u00fameros de tel\u00e9fono que aparecen en el folleto de servicios ling\u00fc\u00edsticos incluido con esta notificaci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gracias,<br \/>Department of Health Care Services<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Medi-Cal member, You may have heard that Medi-Cal\u2019s rules are changing because of a new federal law. The federal government is limiting what it will cover for people with<span class=\"ellipsis\">&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1523,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-notifications"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1523"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22855"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22855\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22963,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22855\/revisions\/22963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.sbcounty.gov\/tad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}